Florida State University announced today the retirement of Dr. Cecile Reynaud, who has served as head volleyball coach for the Lady Seminoles the past 26 years. During her very successful tenure at Florida State, Reynaud compiled an impressive 635-326 record, which places her in an elite group of only eight active coaches with 600 wins. Her teams claimed six Metro Conference Championships, one ACC title and competed in 10 NCAA Tournaments, including eight post-season trips over the past 14 years. In 2001, the Seminoles finished the season with a 17-12 record and for the fourth time since joining the league, advanced to the ACC Championship match.

"Cecile poured her heart and soul into the growth of our volleyball program, as well as the growth of her student-athletes as people, during her outstanding tenure as our Volleyball coach," said Florida State Director of Athletics Dave Hart. "The foundation she has built, and the manner in which she built it, will serve as a legacy to her tireless efforts."

Reynaud earned conference Coach of the Year honors four times during her career. In addition, she has been named Florida Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Woman of the Year and South Region Coach of the Year while at FSU. In 1996, Reynaud received the prestigious George J. Fischer Volleyball Leader Award at the USA Volleyball meetings in recognition of her contributions to the sport of volleyball. A past president of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), Reynaud is currently a member of the volleyball Hall of Fame selection committee. She spent 12 years on the USA Volleyball Board of Directors and Executive Committee as well.

Reynaud has been active in volleyball at the international level since 1983 when she served as the assistant coach for the World University Games in Canada. She has since coached the United States Junior National Team, served as a coordinator at the Olympic Festival for several years and participated in the Goodwill Games. Highly respected among her peers, Reynaud's involvement in international competition was taken to an even higher level when she was chosen to serve at the Deputy Competition Manager for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta.

As an expert of the game, Reynaud is co-editor of "The Volleyball Coaching Bible," which is due to be completed in 2002. She has been a technical consultant for two Power Volleyball films and has co-authored numerous articles pertaining to women's athletics.
During her 26 years at Florida State, the volleyball program has boasted one of the highest graduation rates within the athletic department. Among four-year letterwinners, all but two student-athletes have earned their college degrees while playing for Reynaud. This accounts for nearly 98 percent of all volleyball student-athletes over the past 26 years. Reynaud's Seminoles also earned the prestigious Director's Cup for Service, given annually to the athletic team that performs the most community service hours. The Lady Seminoles donated 636 hours of service to the community in 2000-01.

Reynaud's immediate plans will have her transitioning into a teaching role in FSU's School of Education.

"My coaching career at Florida State University allowed me the opportunity to work with so many outstanding coaches, administrators, and staff," said Reynaud. "I have been fortunate to have coached so many wonderful student-athletes and will miss the daily contact and those relationships that are the best part of coaching. I look forward to continuing to promote the mission of the athletic department as well as the university and welcome a new challenge of teaching at the university level."

Hart stated that a national search for Reynaud's successor would begin immediately.